Holy Bible: World English Bible

World English Bible (WEB)

The World English Bible (WEB) is a modern English translation of the Holy Bible. Its primary goal is to combine a high degree of accuracy to the original biblical languages with clear, understandable English for a worldwide audience.

The WEB project began as an update to the American Standard Version of 1901, a translation renowned for its formal equivalence (word-for-word) approach. Recognizing that the ASV's copyright had expired, the WEB team sought to create a similarly faithful translation that also used more contemporary, accessible language. A key principle from the start was that the WEB would remain in the public domain, dedicated to God's work and freely available for anyone to use, publish, or distribute without royalty payments.

The translation uses 'Yahweh' for the divine name (the Tetragrammaton) where it appears in the Old Testament, a distinctive feature among many English Bibles. Its language is formal yet straightforward, avoiding overly archaic terms and aiming for clarity for both native and non-native English speakers.

The New Testament translation was first published in 2000, and the complete Bible, including the Old and New Testaments, was released in 2020. It is particularly valued by online ministries, students, and anyone seeking a reliable, no-cost Bible translation for study, worship, and sharing. The WEB stands as a serious, freely accessible translation effort for the global English-speaking Christian community.